But Keim made clear that despite Carson Palmer’s bad game, Palmer was the man who would lead the Cards into 2016.
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He’s taking the Carolina Panthers with him.
The Panthers don’t have many press conferences in that room, but because of the NFC Championship’s increased media presence, that’s where Newton talked after Sunday’s win.
That would be against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in two weeks. Carolina is favored by four points. It’s because of Cam Newton. That was the all-around game where we were able to get pressure, guys were able to get stops like Talib and T.J. “We’re going to be excited”. In reality, this Sunday will be a travel day out to the San Francisco area for Super Bowl 50, and then the week out there will be spent tweaking things in advance of taking on the Broncos.
Ultimately, the Super Bowl is an environment that Rivera believes his exuberant team will embrace.
“One of the things Coach Ditka emphasized to us was to enjoy the moment” Rivera said, via ESPN.
But after the Panthers made Heisman Trophy victor Newton the No. 1 over pick in the 2011 defeat, the Broncos immediately made linebacker Von Miller, the Butkus Award victor at Texas A&M, No. 2 overall. It’s not over yet. Get ready, world. Here comes Cam. Despite not being the physically gifted QB that he once was, Manning led the Denver Broncos over the New England Patriots in a 20-18 nail-biter in the Mile High City.
Special teams also had a takeaway, and when Carolina grabbed a 24-7 half-time lead this time, they didn’t back off, as they did in almost blowing a 31-point margin a week ago against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Panthers are on their way to the Super Bowl for just the second time in franchise history.
Newton finished 2015 with 3,837 yards, 35 passing touchdowns, and another ten rushing scores, making him the front-runner for the NFL MVP. And their wide receivers don’t scare defenses. The fourth interception went to Luke Kuechly, who returned it for a touchdown.
Carolina was one of the best defensive teams in the NFC, and they will be playing one of the best of the AFC next. He’s the Panthers’ starting right tackle now.
Palmer was inconsistent in earning his first career playoff win in last week’s overtime thriller against Green Bay in the divisional round. He just needs to overcome injury one more time. Six plays later, he zigzagged 22 yards for the Panthers’ first touchdown. He is a player that opposing defenses can only hope to contain because there will be no shutting Newton down.
“It was painful”, Davis said. Patrick Peterson muffed a punt early in the game that was another costly turnover. Jonathan Stewart ran for 17 and 23 yards – more missed tackles by the Arizona defense – and Newton leaped to extend the ball over the goal line from the 1. On both of his TD runs, he laid out the ball or himself to get into the end zone.
Newton, meanwhile, is part of the new guard. Kawann Short forced a fumble on his, and so did Charles Johnson.
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Back to Carolina, it could be the absence of one of their defensive stars that plays a pivotal role in the game in two weeks…
